Seven years of rising premiums: what to know about malpractice insurance

Medical malpractice insurance premiums have risen for a seventh consecutive year, a trend not seen since the early 2000s.

The American Medical Association this year published the AMA Policy Research Perspectives Paper, “For the seventh year, medical liability premiums continue to rise,” by Allen Hardiman, Ph.D., AMA’s chief economist.

The findings draw on the Medical Liability Monitor, an annual survey of insurers covering 60% to 80% of the U.S. market, with data broken down by state and by specialty: general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology (care related to pregnancy and childbirth), and internal medicine.

Nearly 40% of reported premiums rose in 2025, up sharply from just 13.7% in 2018, though down from a peak of nearly 50% in 2024. Increases were widespread, but Pennsylvania and New York saw the steepest jumps. While today's rise is milder than the malpractice crisis of the early 2000s, the AMA cautions that a continued climb could eventually limit patients' access to care.

This slideshow presents the findings from the publication.